“Table nails” are worth their weight in gold: geese and milk pigs have risen wildly in price

Well, let’s say a Christmas goose. From my Soviet childhood, I remember a well-established newspaper stamp. At the end of December, Soviet newspapers wrote that the Americans (British, French or German) were beginning to tighten their belts and were not even able to afford a Christmas goose. What convinced Soviet citizens of the advantages of socialism over capitalism

What is the price of the issue for the Russians today?

Campaigns on the markets and supermarkets of results have not given. Large stores have frozen duck carcasses. But the managers themselves do not advise them to the table for the New Year. “Rubber, just spoil the holiday. Buy at the market from the peasants, homemade, ”one adviser told me.

Meanwhile, the range of prices is quite large. Duck 300-370 rubles per kilogram in the store, 530 in the market. We found a goose (the same Christmas goose) in only one place – 550 rubles a kilogram.

In general, in order for the New Year’s holiday to be truly successful, you need to be closer to the village or have a farmer you know. So there are more chances not to “prick” when buying. Although, according to experts, one should not lose vigilance with private traders either. The year turned out to be difficult for them, many birds are pricked with antibiotics for greater beauty.

A farmer who keeps geese and ducks says that the current price of 500-700 rubles per kilogram is quite acceptable, it will not be cheaper from the manufacturer. Thus, the carcass will cost 3-5 thousand rubles. “This is an expensive dish, but it’s worth it,” the source said.

The optimal weight for roasting a duck is 4-5 kilograms, a goose 6-7. “This is it,” says the farmer. It turns out that the duck has one feature that the goose does not have. After 4-5 kilograms, she stops gaining weight, no matter how much you feed her. Therefore, even after the holidays, it will not become cheaper in any way, on the contrary, it will only rise in price.

I’m wondering: when is it better to buy a “holiday” bird – these days or by the end of the month?

“Better now,” he advises. – First, closer to the New Year, prices will rise. Yes, and the load on the hostesses is increasing, they are knocked off their feet in purchases. In addition, by the end of December, the peasants will sell the best poultry and carry the leftovers, of less weight. This means that the goose or duck was underfed, slaughtered ahead of time.

The specialist recommends immediately putting the carcass in the freezer – once frozen, it will not lose any taste or nutrients after defrosting …

Dream pig

Not so long ago, retail chains announced that in December they would make an exception to the rule and would not raise prices for premium products before the New Year. As you know, they usually beat off their margin on such sales, since they try not to raise prices from the grocery basket.

The current “policy of containment” is clearly visible on potatoes and vegetables. Against all expectations, this group is still worth every penny. Tubers 24 rubles a kilogram, cabbage – 16, carrots – 15, onions – 21 rubles … A year ago, all this cost 3-4 times more expensive ..

However, the main decorations of the New Year’s table are not considered by Rosstat and are not included in the statistics, these are also exceptions to the rules. For the most part, they are the real market – in terms of pricing and location.

For example, it is useless to look for a carcass of a suckling pig in a store – only in a noisy and rich market. According to a farmer friend, the carcass should be chosen depending on the size of your oven in the apartment. If it is small, then by 2 kilograms, if it is large, then by 3.

“Today, a kilogram of a suckling pig costs 1.5 thousand rubles,” the farmer explains. – But this is specifically from the manufacturer, in his farm. On the market counter, it will be more expensive, and if an intermediary trades, then the price will be 2-3 thousand per kilogram.

You need to start preparing the carcass from the morning of December 31, and it is better to buy it no earlier than December 28. It is early now, and for 2-3 days the piglet will lie quietly in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2-4 degrees.

But the farmer warns that the closer to the chiming clock, the more pig meat will rise in price. Compared to last year, the price of a carcass will increase by 1.5-2 thousand rubles. Also for the reason that swine flu is now raging in 64 regions of Russia. By law, private traders must destroy their livestock. “They won’t do it, but they will raise the price for the risk. Dealers will also pick it up. In general, by the end of the month, the carcass of a piglet can rise in price to 8-9 thousand.

On average, this is ten times higher than the cost of pork in the store. But, as the expert assures, suckling pig is a completely different sensation, including taste. “With a good drink, a company of four people can eat a pig in one sitting.”

My dear fish

And what New Year’s table without seafood? In theory, our fish products should be the cheapest in the world. After all, all the northern seas and the Far East are primordially Russian territories. However, according to Rosstat, over the year by November this year, they grew by more than 15% – more than many other products.

However, percentages tell little about the buyer. And here are the specific prices … Ready-to-eat trout – 1980 per kilogram, coho salmon – 1250, crab claw – 3500, hot smoked sturgeon – 3200, sturgeon tail – 2500. A 140-gram jar of red caviar – from 728 rubles to 910.

Even capelin, a jar of which used to cost a penny, and that 400 rubles.

In general, as the song says: “Think for yourself, decide for yourself whether to have or not to have.”